Improvement in latch-fastenings



PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY M. JONES, OF WEST MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN LATCH-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,150, dated August14, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. M. JONES, of West Meriden, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Latchfor Window Sashes and Cupboards; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, referencebeing had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecitica-tion.

The present invention consists in a novel construction of a latchsuitable to be used for window-sashes, doors, cupboards, and otherpurposes, the bolt of which latch is made of a semicircular shape, andis so arranged as to fall by its own weight, interlocking itself withinthe notch made or prepared in the side of the window-frame, door-frame,or cupboard, as the case may be, to receive it, said latchbolt having asuitable handle or knob attached to it for disengaging it therefrom whenso desired.

In accompanying plate of drawings my improved latch is illustrated,Figure 1 being a front elevation of the casing for the latch, showing itas applied; Fig. 2, a View of the back side of the latch-fastening, andFig. 3 an edge View.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

a in the drawings represents the casing of the latch, which consists ofa semicircularshaped plate, b, with a side piece, c, along its straightedge, leaving spaces d d at each of its ends. This casing is secured toand in the side of the sash, door, or other device in the ordinarymanner, a screw, f, being used for holding it in place. y

g is the latch-bolt, made of a semicircular shape, which bolt is placedupon the back side of the plate b of the latch-casing, and moves uponit, guides h h being attached to the said plate for guiding it in itsmovement; Z, a knob or handle upon the outside of the easing a, theshaft m ot' which loosely passes through the curved slot n in the plateb and similar slot 0 in the latch-bolt g, and 11a-s a nut, p, upon itsinner end.

One end, q, of the latch-bolt is made square, and the other, r, bevelingupon one side, the rst shape being used when the latch is employed as asash-fastenin g, and the other when as a cupboard-fastening.

The bolt, by its arrangement, is allowed free play in its casing, sothat when a window is raised or lowered it will necessarily fall, as isobvious, by its own weight, and thus become interlocked with the notchsuitably formed in the window-frame to receive it, it being so arrangedas to be susceptible ot' sufficient play therefor, the bolt beingwithdrawn by simply raising it by its knob or handle.

When the latch-fastening is used for cupboards the beveled end of itsbolt is lowermost, so that as the door is closed it will be forced back,as with ordinary cupboard-fastenings, the bolt, however, instantlyfalling back to its original position by its own weight and fasteningitself, as is apparent without further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The reversible latch, consisting of the semicircular bolt g, with itssquare end q and beveled end r, handle l, slotted plate b, and end piecec, arranged and operating in the manner and as herein described.

The above specification oi' my invention signed by me this 26th day ofOctober, 1865.

HENRY M. JONES.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN. M. M. LIVINGSTON.

